PESHAWAR, Nov 10: The leaders of different political parties in tribal areas have demanded of the government to give them representation in talks with Taliban for restoration of peace in Fata.

They also demanded provincial status for Fata, holding of local bodies` elections in tribal areas and scrapping of Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Addressing a jirga held here on Sunday, the tribal leaders said that they supported the option of holding talks with Taliban for restoration of peace in Fata. They also demanded immediate end to drone attacks and killing of innocent people in tribal areas.

The jirga was addressed by Akhunzada Chattan and Jangrez Khan of PPP, Mohammad Zahir Shah Safi of Qaumi Watan Party, Advocate Abdul Lateef Afridi of ANP, Syed Kabeer and Maulana Abdur Rasheed of Jamiat Ulema-iIslam, Zar Noor Afridi of Jamaat-i-Islami and Haji Mohammad Iqbal and Mohammad Daud of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Briefing journalists about the jirga, presided over by chief of All Fata Political Alliance Akhunzada Chattan, Lateef Afridi said that government had ignored Fata and focused on development of certain settled areas. It was sheer injustice with tribal people, he added.

The ANP leader said that on one hand tribal people were targeted by drone strikes and on the other military operations were conducted frequently that caused heavy losses of lives and properties to them. The government was yet to compensate the tribal people, he added.`In the entire country, political parties are making preparations for the local bodies` elections but people living in Fata are not given the right to elect their representatives through democratic process,` Mr Afridi said.

He said that rulers should stop stepmotherly treatment with tribal people and give them rights so that they could also lead an honourable life.

Every year, he said, billions of rupees were allocated for the development of Fata but the funds were embezzled and no change was witnessed in the living standard of tribal people.

Mr Afridi said that the only option to develop tribal people was to give Fata the status of a separate province so that they could elect their own representatives and lead independent life. The government should abolish the FCR, he added.

The ANP leader also threw light on the condition of education and health facilities in tribal areas and asked the government to appoint judges in Fata Tribunal and initiate development schemes in the region to facilitate the hitherto neglected tribal people.

Mr Afridi said that lawlessness had inflicted heavy losses on tribal people. It was duty of the government to announce a sizeable financial package for Fata, particularly for the affected tribal families.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chattan also condemned drone attacks. `We strongly condemn the recent drone strike and all in the past which disrupted peace process through negotiation between the government and Taliban,` he said.

The participants of the jirag observed that law and order was the biggest problem of Fata, Mr Chattan added.